Re: [boost] [Important] Boost Subversion repository is now online

From: Phil Endecott (spam_from_boost_dev_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-08-03 16:29:46

Michael Marcin wrote:
> I'd just like to mention again that I've had lots of subtle issues with 
> externals and I think they should be discouraged or forbidden.
>
> Not the least of which is that if you are planning to move to a system 
> that involves lots of merges, branching, and tagging all the externals 
> must be branched and updated individually or they will point to the same 
> unbranched location.

There is a contrib script called "svncopy" which does the same thing as 
"svn copy", but with some extra flags for managing externals in the 
appropriate ways for branching and tagging.  It's not a great solution 
but it is better than doing it manually.

> If the repository URL ever changes then all internal externals must be 
> updated by hand.

I have been able to use svn-controlled symlinks rather than "internal 
externals".  But presumably this is not portable to Windows.

I suggest that externals should be considered a mechanism of last resort.

Phil.